My First Day of Work: A Comedy of Errors
Moving to Darwin has been quite a process, as it always is when you move cities. One of those processes of course has been getting work sorted and after a few medicals and forms, I was waiting for the all clear.
After I got the call from HR, they had asked me when I could come in to work.
I said as soon as they can have me.
Alas, I was given the address, told to arrive at 7am and have all the necessities for tomorrow’s work. I woke up bright and early, donned my kit and I had arrived promptly at 6:55am.
I got out of my car, ready to conquer the wild west of Darwin. I walk up the path, brimming with excitement and confidence. Striding towards the office, ready to be welcomed with open arms. Deep breaths, a new beginning…let’s do this.
The door is locked and no one is there.
I immediately question if I am at the right place.
Confidence wavering I start to wander around albeit quite stupidly. I see that there is a driveway that leads into the back of the office/yard and I follow it, staggering in like a lost sheep.
With hard hat in hand, bright brand spanking new hi-vis and a fresh pair of steel tips, I looked more like a Woolworth’s shelf stacker than an actual employee.
I wandered around the back and found a gentleman in a demountable office, I knew instantly this could be the man who saves me from the small embarrassment.
“Hi, it’s my first day and you were expecting me,” I say with an already shattered confidence.
The man looks at me with a sense of absolute curiosity as to who I was, my canary yellow shirt, a contrast to his sunset orange hi-vis. It was as if I was a courier more than anything else.
The man was not expecting me…
Alas after a few phone calls he finally caught up with what I was there for, so he got up, packed a bag full of rags and gave me a scraper (I’m not joking).
He then asked one of the lads to give me a lift to one of the work sites where there was work to be done on a huge grader.
At this point I’m just relieved that I am at the right place and someone at least was expecting my arrival.
Five minutes later we arrive and I stumble out of the car. I see the behemoth before me and I see again, sunset orange shirts in complete contrast to my clearly wrong hi-vis yellow.
*No stress, just get cracking with the work Caleb*
One of the blokes there explained to me that all the joints on the machine needed the grease scraped off of it, so that they can wash it properly…it was clear what the rags and scraper was for.
*All right sweet, a bit of hard labour to stir the soul, no problem*
Hours pass and by this point I’m covered in grease, what I thought were gloves on my hands was actually a thick layer of grey covering every bit of my skin. Nevertheless I didn’t have much to worry about until the sun was well and truly up.
It turns out it gets pretty hot in Darwin and in the dry season, temperatures can get up to 32 degrees and there is rarely a cloud in the sky. So when you mix those conditions with the fact that I only had one bottle of water and no lunch, you could tell I was in for a fun day.
On top of that I neglected to bring a hat, so I had to resort to wearing my white hard hat for sun protection.
*You’re on fire Caleb*
Nevertheless lunch time rolls around and I am intensely concentrating on removing as much grease that I can. At this point I’m pretty impressed with myself and was keen for a small break. I drop my scraper and I drop my rag, stomach grumbling and sweats broken. I look around and it became apparent that I was the only soul on the yard.
Everyone had left for lunch or other jobs around the area.
I had the sudden realisation that I now had no way of getting back to the yard, I was dropped off after all.
I neglected to ask for anyone's number and basically had no way to communicate. Ah well, I thought, I’m sure someone will come back to continue the work anyway…
30 minutes pass and it’s still me, myself and I. Sitting underneath the shade of the grader, covered head to toe in grease, no water left, no food and turning into a slow roast.
At this point I was quite content with myself, however it was time to figure a way back to the yard.
Whilst coming close to ordering an Uber to get back, I realise that firstly I was covered in dirt and grime and there was no way a driver would accept me.
Secondly, I can’t imagine the scenes of my return to the yard, coming out of an Uber because I hadn’t been picked up.
I then had to resort to calling the only number I had…the HR manager’s based in Adelaide.
After a quick call I finally got a number. It was the bloke who first saw me this morning.
I promptly plugged his number in the phone and gave him a ring. He then said to hang tight and he’ll be there shortly.
I finally get picked up, taken back to the yard and was given a tour of the stores, and spent some time with the store-men, helping them out with a few bits and pieces. I also got my hands on an orange hi-vis (Big Win).
Eleven hours later and the shift was finished, I said my goodbyes for the weekend and was told to come back Monday morning at 6am sharp.
I reflect on this day and find it to be one of the most entertaining of my work life. I remember vividly of my other first days of work and remember the stress and anxiety I would put myself under.
Back in those days I would strive to make a good impression, hoping to do the best I can in a field I had studied relentlessly for, tackling every issue head on with absolute intensity and energy.
But today was a day where I was in complete absorption of everything around me. I had no experience, I had no idea who anyone was and it wasn’t a job I had envisioned myself to be in a month earlier.
There was no arrogance, no over confidence, I was merely a curious fly on the wall and keen to get my hands dirty. Above all else I was grateful just to be there and be able to work.
Rather than nervous or downtrodden, I was humbled. That today’s work was a testament to what the world has to offer. New experiences and worlds that never struck my radar.
You’re sure as hell though I had a checklist ready to go for next Monday:
- Pack a Lunch
- Get a bigger water bottle
- Get a hat you idiot
- Cut your mop hair
I left the yard after my first day with the dirtiest hands you can imagine, a not so fresh looking canary yellow shirt and a smile on my face from ear to ear.
